Need help understanding my feelings towards religion?

Question

I've never had religion my whole life. I do think that there is some thing out there, yet I am naive. I went to a few churches with some family members in the past, and got this very odd feeling. It was almost as if I had no control, everything was so powerful in the churches. It sort of scared me, and I have always been leery of going to churches. Not to say I don't call out for God sometimes, or think of him, I am just undecided. I know some people say it is a sin to doubt the existence of God, and I don't, but I just have that feeling of wonder. I know someones out there but I am afraid that maybe I do go head on into some sort of belief, that in the end it hurts me. Please give me an understanding on why you believe what you do, or why you don't. Or perhaps some reasons why I am a bit stubborn on not letting my feelings aside, and giving forth.

Answer 1

Read, darlin' read. The best thing you can do for yourself is to pick up a Bible, a book on Wicca, a book on Buddhism, a Book of Mormon... everything you can get your hands on until something feels like 'home' to you. Include information from Atheist sources as well, and Agnostics. If there is a Unitarian Universalist Congregation near you, that might be a good place to go for some information.
I believe what I do because I studied many beliefs, and when I was introduced to Alchemy, it felt like I had walked into a place I had never known, but that had all of my familiar things inside. New, but what I had really believed all along. whatever your spiritual path might be, it is right. Once you find it, you'll know, and you'll never be the same again.
Good Luck, Blessed Be, and May Your Journey Be Filled With Wonder!

Answer 2

Yeah, I know where you're coming from. It took me over 20 years to really understand what's going on. During that time I sometimes found church interesting and at other times downright unnerving.

If you believe there's something or someone out there, then you need to put the religion and the church stuff aside and get personal with that higher being. For me that ended up being the God of the bible. I found Him by simply asking Him to reveal Himself to me. I figured, what have I got to lose?

What I discovered is that beliefs are not important. Feelings aren't important either. They're both human emotions that can lead you astray. When you really connect with God you'll just know it. And you may not be able to explain it to your friends. It'll be that awesome.

Just understand this ... God will not answer you until He knows you're ready. He will not take you anywhere you don't want to go. He will not ask you to do anything He knows you can't handle. He will not burden you with more than you can handle.

There is no way the human mind can conceive of love once you see it through God's eyes. It's a whole new ball game.

So why are you just a bit stubborn? I think we all fear the unknown and fear we'll have to give something up to please this God. Funny thing is, after 11 years of being a Christian, the only thing I've given up is all the burdens of this world. God is so good.

Answer 3

It's nice that you are having feelings when you go to churches. My advice for you would be to keep on doing that. Take what you like out of each religion and keep it inside you. It's okay, I think, to question the existence of God. If you don't question it, then you are just jumping on the bandwagon and will never fully feel the Lord. Maybe you would want to do some Bible study. Make sure you take steps that are right for you. Don't worry so much about what everyone else believes. Spirituality can be/is personal and it is more than acceptable to have a personal relationship and understanding with God. Try going to these churches without family members and see if the feelings are any different. I used to get a little nervous when I was in church with family. It's good to question things, that's how you learn.

Answer 4

I know what you are talking about. It's all this unknown stuff and wondering what people will expect of me at church. But I will tell you something, Jesus had the truth, and all those Christian churches out there are saying just that. They all derive their version of the truth from that book: The Bible.

So there's where you need to look. Most of those churches will quote Jesus as being the authority where all things rest. I do too. And so here, I will show you what He said:

17 "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
( John 3 )

So what does that mean to you? I hope it means that Jesus is asking us to trust Him for what the truth is. He offered Himself as the one where anyone can go to have peace with God and not be condemned. That's what it means to me anyway.

Now I would like to leave you with a site that goes through the whole Bible with audio lessons on it. The Pastor is Pastor Chuck Smith. He is the one doing the teaching:

http://twft.com/?page=C2000


Please listen to him, and tell me what you think about him and what he says. I get almost no feedback when I do this. So I am hoping that while you are on the internet, you spend some of your time listening to the teaching on the Bible.

My prayers have been said for you. God bless you.

Answer 5

Personally, I believe what I do because I can find a verse for every tenet of my belief system. I believe in the church that Jesus and his apostles started in the book of Acts. That"odd" feeling is God calling you to repentance. He came that we might be saved. Please read Acts 2:38-9 to see the plan of salvation. Its a matter of Heaven and Hell. Just pray and let God lead you. He will, if we but ask. Since I'm a stranger to you. See upci.org, if you're more comfortable than e-mailing a woman you don't know. I don't mind @ all. I'll help answer anything I can. God Bless!!!!!!

Answer 6

I speak to Him and He answers me in my heart. He is real.
He has told me alot about things to do what to expect and where I'm going. He is Awesome there is no other love greater than His. He is a God of Action. He is a living God.
The Father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost is more real than all that you see on this earth. God controls everything in everyone's life. He allow things to happen because of our free will which He respects and also the devil has rights.
He is a merciful and just God but most of all He is a tender, gentle, kind, thoughtful,loving, persons. God is not a religion but a relationship which no one will every understand unless they get to know Him. He will share everything with you to give you the life He has planned for you. God is everything.
There is no other love as great as Jesus' . If the Father gave up His greatest gift in life of Jesus everything else is secondary, long life, money, salvation, gold, land etc....

Answer 7

I understand the feeling and thoughts you have, all I can say is don't look for a religion or a church or an organization, but look to God
Letting Him take over is the most wonderful way of life, when you allow Him to lead you, you will be safe and loved and cared for;
If He wants you to fellowship with those who are likeminded, then He will show you
In order to know Him better, read His word asking Him to teach you
Jesus died once for all and that includes you just believe in Him and that means in His death and resurrection
Isaiah 53 shows His payment to buy you back
and first John near the back of the Bible will help you (1John, 2nd John 3rd John)

Answer 8

i suggest you do a thorough study of as many religions as you can. Christianity is not the be all and end of paths to enlightenment. in fact, Christianity (depending on what form) can be a huge stumbling block to self discovery and spiritual enlightenment. the Fundamental form of any religion discourages education and freedom of expression and is often cruel and bigoted towards nonmembers.

above all else be self honest and scrupulous in your personal integrity. do not follow a religion just because of peer pressure or fear. if you're being threatened with some nasty afterlife if you don't join you know that's not the correct religion. Love does not threaten. Love does not coerce

Answer 9

I agree with many answers above: Do some homework. Visit a wide range of churches, not just Christian. Read, research, do whatever you have to to find what feels right and good to you. Don't think that suppressing your feelings and picking one faith to follow unwaveringly is going to help you in this world, though many would have you believe it. Your answer will come with time.
Since you do believe in a higher deity it might help to talk to it. Don't pray necessarily, just find a quiet spot to ask (out loud) what's right. You already know that you don't know a lot, that puts you halfway there already!

Answer 10

That either makes you agnostic of just plain spiritual.

There's no need to go to church if you don't like it. There are plenty of ways to do your own thing.

I was into the agnosticism for a while, and some of it was comforting, but in the end, I had no faith. Since you do, you should look into alternate forms of "worship" or meditation, what have you.

Good luck :)